Hull with Delta Plate and Keel Extension

ABSTRACT

A boat hull includes a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern. Said bottom surface includes a substantially flat delta plate, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/565,130 filed Nov. 30, 2011, entitled “Hull with Delta Plate and Keel Extension,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a boat hull, and more particularly to a boat hull that includes a delta plate having a keel extension.

BACKGROUND ART

To promote planing and higher speeds, a boat hull may include a delta plate. The delta plate is substantially flat, allowing the boat to rise higher above the water at high speeds.

However, a hull that includes a delta plate can prove disadvantageous when the boat is designed to slide into/out a notch of a parent boat for stowage/deployment, respectively. The large amount of friction between the hull's flat delta plate and the notch of the parent boat may cause the hull to become unstable and/or otherwise get stuck and not fully slide into the notch.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a boat hull includes a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern, said bottom surface including a substantially flat delta plate, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate.

In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the boat hull may further includes a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side. The delta may have a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle. The delta plate may be narrow fore and wider aft.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a boat system includes a first boat having a hull. The hull including a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern. The bottom surface includes a substantially flat delta plate, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate. The boat system further includes a parent boat. The parent boat includes a notch. The first boat is capable of sliding into and/or out of the notch for stowage and/or deployment of the first boat.

In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the parent boat may include notch bunking for contacting the hull of the first boat, wherein when the first boat slides into and/or out of the notch, the keel extension reduces contact between the delta plate and the notch bunking. The first boat may further include a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side. The delta plate may have a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle. The delta plate may be narrow fore and wider aft.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of stowing and/or deploying a first boat is provided. The first boat has a hull, the hull including a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern. The bottom surface includes a delta plate that is substantially flat, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate. The first boat is slid into and/or out of a notch of a parent boat so as to stow and/or deploy the first boat, respectively.

In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the parent boat may include notch bunking for contacting the hull of the first boat, wherein sliding the first boat into and/or out of the notch includes placing the keel extension into contact with the notch bunking, reducing contact between the delta plate and the notch bunking. The first boat may further include a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side. The delta plate may have a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle. The delta plate may be narrow fore and wider aft of the hull.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first boat sliding into a notch of a parent boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the hull of the first boat in more detail, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3( a) shows a plan view of the bottom of the first boat, while FIG. 3( b) shows a perspective view of the bottom view of the first boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, FIG. 3( c) shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the first boat shown in FIG. 3( a), with FIG. 3( d) showing a more detailed cross-section view of the bottom of the first boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4( a) shows an elevation view of the hull of the first boat when it is properly seated within the notch of the parent boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4( b) shows a cross-sectional view of the hull resting on notch bunking associated with the notch of the first boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4( c) shows a plan view of the notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) illustrate the notch of the parent boat, with associated notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates how the hull of the first boat, and associated delta plate and keel extension, rests on the notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In illustrative embodiments of the invention, a hull of a boat includes a substantially flat delta plate that promotes planing and higher speeds. The delta plate includes a keel extension that extends, at least partially, across the delta plate. The keel extension advantageously allows for smooth sliding into and/or out of a notch of a parent boat, for stowage and/or deployment. Details are discussed below.

FIG. 1 shows a first boat 101 sliding into a notch 105 of a parent boat 103, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The first boat 101 may be, without limitation, a rigid hull inflatable cutter boat, that is designed to be deployed from a parent ship. The hull of the first boat 101 may be fabricated from a large variety of materials, including, for example, aluminum. Inflatable tubes may be attached to the hull of the first boat 101. The hull of the first boat 101 may be a stepped hull.

FIG. 2 shows the hull 200 of the first boat in more detail, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hull 200 has a bow 205, a stern 207 and a bottom 209 surface extending from said bow to said stern. The hull 200 further includes a delta plate 201 that is substantially planar and flat, so as to promote planing and high speed. Typically, the delta plate may be positioned so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the water when, for example, the boat is not moving and is properly trimmed. In various embodiments, the delta plate may be positioned to be substantially parallel to the deck (not taking into account any variance in the angle of deck for purposes of, for example, drainage). In various embodiments, the delta plate may be used, without limitation, in combination with a round hull, V-hull and/or a V-modified hull, their use is obviously not applicable to a flat-bottom boat. The delta plate 201 can be considered as adding a discontinuity in the normal shape of the central vertical keel (CVK) profile of their associated type of hull. In various embodiments, the delta plate may have a small amount of deadrise, such as, without limitation, less than 3° of deadrise, less than 2° degrees of deadrise, or less than 1° degree of deadrise. Typically, the centerline of the hull, without limitation, bisects the delta plate. The shape, size and positioning of the delta plate, relative to the length of the boat, may vary depending on desired design characteristics.

Contrary to the use of conventional delta plates, the delta plate 201 includes a keel extension 203, which runs, entirely or at least partially, across the delta plate 201, along the centerline of the boat. In various embodiments, the keel extension may be considered as restoring, at least in part, the central vertical keel (CVK) profile of what would have otherwise been, for example, a V hull or deep −V hull without the delta plate.

The keel extension 203 may be, without limitation, welded to the delta plate 201 or otherwise attached to the delta plate 201, as known in the art. In other embodiments, the keel extension may be integrally formed with the delta plate 201. The keel extension may be of any height depending on design constraints. For example, the keel extension may have, without limitation, a height of one to four inches. The lowest surface of the keel extension (i.e. that surface which is distal from the hull) may be substantially flat, however, in various embodiments, the lowest surface of the keel extension may have, without limitation, a desired amount of rocker.

FIG. 3( a) shows a plan view of the bottom of the first boat, while FIG. 3( b) shows a perspective view of the bottom view of the first boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, FIG. 3( c) shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the first boat shown in FIG. 3( a), with FIG. 3( d) showing a more detailed cross-section view of the bottom of the first boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, the delta plate 201 may be, without limitation, triangular in shape, with the keel extension 203 bisecting said triangle. The delta plate may be narrow fore and wider aft of the hull.

FIG. 4( a) shows an elevation view of the hull of the first boat when it is properly seated within the notch of the parent boat, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the hull 200 may rest, without limitation, on notch bunking 403 associated with the notch of the first boat, as shown in more detail in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4( b), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

In illustrative embodiments of the invention, the keel extension 203 rides on the notch bunking 402, preventing the delta plate from contacting the notch bunking 402, and decreasing friction. This may hold true as the first boat slides along the entire length of the notch bunking 403. This enables the first boat to slide smoothly in and out of the notch of the parent boat, and ensures that the first boat slides fully into the notch without getting stuck or/otherwise twisted as it moves within the notch.

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) illustrate the notch of the parent boat, with associated notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The notch bunking is similar to what is shown in FIG. 4( c).

FIG. 6 illustrates how the hull of the first boat, and associated delta plate and keel extension, rests on the notch bunking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Frame 1 represents the aft view, while Frame 7 represents the fore view. The keel extension can be seen in Frames 3-7.

The first boat may be any type of water vehicle, including without limitation, a motorboat, a powerboat, a rigid-hulled inflatable, a jet boat, and/or a jet ski. As described above, the notch may be associated with a parent boat. Instead of a parent boat, the notch may be associated with, for example, a boat trailer or other stowage/deployment systems known in the art.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A boat hull comprising: a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern, said bottom surface including a substantially flat delta plate, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate.
 2. The boat hull according to claim 1, further comprising a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side.
 3. The boat hull according to claim 1, wherein the delta plate has a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle.
 4. The boat hull according to claim 1, wherein the delta plate is narrow fore and wider aft of the hull.
 5. A boat system comprising: a first boat having a hull, the hull including a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern, said bottom surface including a delta plate that is substantially flat, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate; and a parent boat, the parent boat including a notch, the first boat capable of sliding into and/or out of the notch for stowage and/or deployment of the first boat.
 6. The boat system according to claim 5, wherein the parent boat includes notch bunking for contacting the hull of the first boat, wherein when the first boat slides into and/or out of the notch, the keel extension reduces contact between the delta plate and the notch bunking.
 7. The boat system according to claim 5, wherein the first boat further includes a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side.
 8. The boat hull according to 5, wherein the delta plate has a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle.
 9. The boat hull according to claim 5, wherein the delta plate is narrow fore and wider aft of the hull.
 10. A method of stowing and/or deploying a first boat, the first boat having a hull, the hull including a bow, a stern and a bottom surface extending from said bow to said stern, said bottom surface including a delta plate that is substantially flat, and a keel extension extending, at least partially, across the delta plate; and sliding the first boat into and/or out of a notch of a parent boat so as to stow and/or deploy the first boat, respectively.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the parent boat includes notch bunking for contacting the hull of the first boat, wherein sliding the first boat into and/or out of the notch includes placing the keel extension into contact with the notch bunking, reducing contact between the delta plate and the notch bunking.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first boat further includes a port side and a starboard side, the keel extension disposed along a centerline of the boat hull between the port side and the starboard side.
 13. The boat hull according to 10, wherein the delta plate has a triangle shape, the keel extension bisecting said triangle.
 14. The boat hull according to claim 10, wherein the delta plate is narrow fore and wider aft of the hull. 